"I feel like everyone is looking at Beau as the favourite" - Fallon Sherrock happy to fly under the radar at Women's World Matchplay

Prior to this Sunday night's final of the 2024 World Matchplay, the Women's World Matchplay is on the cards this afternoon. In the opening round, Fallon Sherrock, who won the inaugural edition of the event in 2022, faces the returning Anastasia Dobromyslova.

The former women's world champion has been barred from participating on the WDF circuit in recent years due to her Russian passport. After turning her attentions to the PDC's Women's Series, Dobromyslova will now make her return to the big stage at the iconic Winter Gardens, competing under a neutral flag.

It's Sherrock though, that will start the match as the favourite. "I'm so excited to be back. It brings back so many good memories, it's an iconic venue and I just get goose bumps every time I walk in the building," the 'Queen of the Palace' previews in conversation with Online Darts.

After her aforementioned overall victory in 2022, Sherrock was eliminated in the opening round twelve months ago. "I definitely want to fix what went wrong last year. That wasn't me. I can play better than that," she explains. "I've been putting the effort in, I'm incredibly determined this year and I genuinely want to pick up that trophy again."

Despite Sherrock one of the two pre-tournament favourites alongside Beau Greaves, the Englishwoman insists the pressure is off her shoulders. "I don't think there's much pressure. We've already won it and we both know we have the game to live up to expectations," she says. "I feel like everyone is looking at Beau as the favourite and I'm second. I feel people are like; 'She's won it once and we know how good she can play but can she do it again?' I can!"

As mentioned, Dobromyslova awaits in the first round however. "I'm not pleased I got her first round but I'm really happy to see Anna back," Sherrock concludes. "I hope she produces a really good game against me, but obviously I want to come out the winner."